MIX AND MATCH: PORSCHE 917 by Mike Sells These are the first two kits I built after I switched from 1/24 scale in about 1980. The availability of 1:32nd scale cars has improved enormously since then. It was the "forgotten scale" then but patience has been rewarded with the advent of the enormous number of contemporary and vintage slot cars now available. It's the challenge of creating unique models from obscure kits that I enjoy most and working in 1/32 gives one plenty of opportunity for that. The pair of 917's you see here are identical except
for paint, being combinations of Airfix bodies, cockpit and front
and rear suspension parts with engine and tube frame components provided
by the Matchbox Porsche 917-10 Can Am kit. Both kits are excellent
and the combination gives the Match the various suspension parts to the engine parts and then paint and install. The twin turbo units are deleted from the Matchbox engine and the Airfix fan shroud installed instead. Wheels and tires all around are the Matchbox parts. Tires are sanded to a flat, used looking surface labeled with 1/43 scale decals. Today I would use the superb FLY Porsche 908 wheels and tires for these models. The cockpit carries the Matchbox seats fitted with seat belt decals as they look much better than the original Airfix parts but everything else is as Airfix intended. The white car uses the Matchbox 917-10 Martini decals combined with hand painted stripes on the fenders. Triangular fins on the rear fenders are styrene sheet cut to shape. The Gulf car has no particular prototype. I intend to do at least one more of these as the white stripes for the red Salzburg LeMans winner are now available from Bruce Paterson. In fact, Martini markings for several variants are available in 1/24 scale from Scale Designs if one wished to model those as well based on the Airfix kit or the SCX "Vintage" Porsche 917 re-issue. Airfix Porsche 917 in Martini colours.
Essex Wire AC Cobra
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Airfix
coupe the engine detailing it lacks. Simply cut out the coupe rear
pan behind the cockpit bulhead, using the space in the Matchbox kit
for a guide. Mate the Matchbox engine to the Airfix transaxle and
suspension carrier. Assemble the tube frame and glue in place against
the bulkhead. 
